Lucky chapter 13.
Enter Haer'Dalis and a nice chat with Hendak.
On an unrelated topic, just saw Deadpool. Excellent movie, far better than I expected.
Chapter 13: SSDD
"Another day another sewer," Jeral mumbled.
"Actually it is the same sewer Jeral. So same sewer, different day would be correct," Nalia brightly chimed in.
Despite the dank conditions she was unusually cheerful. She had rolled up her mage robes to the knees and pinned them in place to keep them out of the muck they steadily trudged through. A brief battle with some kobolds and a rakasha yielded an enchanted cloak that Yoshimo was now wearing. It offered him some protection from attacks and allowed him to polymorph into a troll, rat or mustard jelly at will. Yoshimo was all smiles as he led the way through the tunnels in his new outerwear.
The seemingly directionless wandering through the sewers came to a sudden halt when Viconia noticed a concealed door built into one of the corridors. After long moments of careful inspection Yoshimo located a small indentation and pushed on it. An entire section of the wall slid backwards revealing a narrow flight of stairs upwards. The stairs were well lit with a dozen torches lining the stairwell. Yoshimo took the lead, katana in hand, as they cautiously ascended the stairs. The stairs spiraled upwards for thirty or forty feet and ended in a surprisingly comfortable looking sitting room. Before the group could explore the chamber a swarm of mephits appeared out of various hallways on the sides of the room and attacked the party.
I hate mephitis, Jeral thought as he slashed another one of the winged lizard creatures with his swords. They were not individually tough but their numbers and flame breath attacks ensured that everyone was wounded by the time all of the mephitis were killed. Anomen and Viconia spent a few minutes treating burns and healing the party before they were all ready to move out. Yoshimo led them down a side passage and soon came face to face with an elderly mage. He was nearly as tall as Minsc, although he was fat where Minsc was solid. He wore opulent black mage robes of the finest satin and the robes struggled to contain his massive bulk. He was sweating heavily and eyed the group with narrow set eyes that radiated anger. He sneered at their approach.
"Who dares enter the home of Merkath the magnificent?"
Jeral moved to stand in front of Yoshimo and bowed slightly.
"Good morning O mighty one. We are looking for a performer by the name of Haer'Dalis."
"Get your facts straight boy. He is no performer, he is a thief. He stole something that belonged to me and he will be punished; severely punished. Begone, before I lose my temper. I have no time for rabble such as you."
"I apologize for the intrusion O'magnificent one. Regardless, I fear that I must insist that you turn him over to us. You see, I watched a play the other day and it was absolute rubbish because they lacked their lead actor. As a patron of the arts I must do what I can, for the show must go on. Perhaps we can come to some agreement and compensate you for your loss?"
"You dare presume to negotiate with me? With me! Foolish child, you should not involve yourself with your betters. You and your friends will die today."
With that ominous statement he started to cast a spell. Before anyone could react a shield of crackling blue energy appeared around the obese mage.
Yoshimo and Nalia fired arrow after arrow at the mage to no effect while Minsc, Jeral and Anomen struck ineffectively at the mage. Nothing they did could penetrate his magical protections. Laughing at his opponent's impotence Merkath cast another spell and half a dozen skeletons appeared, crawling from the very ground. Before the necromancer could command the skeletons the clerics stepped in to overpower his command of the creatures. Viconia and Anomen called upon their respective patrons to aid them against the undead creatures standing before them. Four of the skeletons shattered into dust under Anomen's command while the remaining pair to Viconia's will and started to attack Merkath.
The skeletons, unaffected by Merkath's magical protections, started to stab him with their daggers. He started to shriek in pain as the two skeletons continued to attack him. The party stood back and watched transfixed as the pair of skeletons steadily cut the obese mage down tearing out great chunks of flesh with every slice. Once the mage was dead Minsc and Anomen shattered the defenseless skeletons and their bones fell to the floor.
Yoshimo quickly checked the room for traps and then the group searched the room for anything of value. Nalia found a light grey rod and a dark blue wand in Merkath's robes. She stashed both in her robes for later examination. Finding nothing else of value or interest the group headed back to the central room to continue their search for the missing actor.
They saw a very handsome man emerge from the shadows. He was shaking his head and walking unsteadily as if he just woken up from a dream. The group started at him in awe for he looked like nothing they had ever seen. He was half elven in appearance with long pointed ears but his skin had an odd purple tint to it. His hair fell past his shoulders and was sky blue. His ears were each pierced with a half dozen golden rings while he had another gold ring that pierced the bridge of his nose. Despite the unusual facial jewelry and unique coloring the man was still strikingly handsome. He was clad in loud colors made from expensive fabrics. Bright red pants and vest, dark green shirt and highly polished black boots gave the man a festive air. Despite his attire he was clearly capable of defending himself for he wore a pair of short swords strapped on his legs.
"Ahhhhhhhh my head clears. My captor and tormentor is no longer of this planet. How delightful."
He gave an elaborate sweeping bow.
"My name is Haer'Dalis, bard and thespian extraordinaire. I must thank you for granting my release. I am particularly grateful for my freedom at the hands of you two fair maidens. Perhaps I may thank you beauties more properly later. Individually or together, whatever you prefer is fine by me."
The last comment made Nalia blush while Viconia and Anomen both scowled. Paying no attention to Viconia and the jealous Helmite Haer'Dalis continued speaking.
"While I am grateful for my release from Merkath's bondage there is more I pray you must do. There is a great gem within this home that I must beg you to acquire. Getting that gem is critical to the lives of me and my companions. I cannot emphasize that enough. Please help me recover it."
Jeral nodded and smiled at their new companion.
"Very well, lead on and we shall endeavor to locate it together."
Smiling Haer'Dalis spun around with a flourish, dramatically drew his short swords, and headed off into the unexplored wing of the complex. Shaking his head in amusement Jeral and the others followed. They rounded a corner and found Haer'Dalis in a battle with three Yuan Ti. He was weaving in and around the snake men and stabbing and cutting with his short swords to great effect. He had already taken a few minor wounds but showed no ill effects from their attacks.
Well he may be overly dramatic, and annoying, but he does know how to fight, Jeral thought as they charged in to support him. After a short but vicious fight the three snake men were in bloody heaps on the ground. Viconia moved forward to heal the bard of his worst wounds. An audible crack was followed by a pained cry and a second crack as Viconia snapped two fingers on the bard's left hand and drove the man to his knees.
"Know this singer of songs," Viconia sneered.
"I am drow. I am female. I am superior to you on many different levels. I do not like anyone touching me without my permission. And you most certainly do not have my permission. I will heal your wounds from battle but the fingers I will not fix; and neither will the Helmite if he knows what is good for him. You are not worthy to partake of my dark pleasures."
Haer'Dalis rubbed his broken fingers and nodded ruefully.
"Very well my dark raven. Clearly this sparrow is not of your liking and will not repeat the attempt. Consider my wings clipped."
"Good," Viconia replied as she squeezed his broken fingers and the bard whimpered in protest.
Viconia stalked off down the corridor and the others hastened to follow. Jeral lingered at the back and helped Haer'Dalis to his feet.
"Don't feel too bad my friend. She broke three of my fingers one for a similar indiscretion."
Haer'Dalis smiled broadly at the news.
"Ahh my head spins with wonder. So that means that she may in the end yield to my charms?"
Jeral chuckled and patted the man gently on the side of his face.
"Silly man, you misunderstand me. If you try anything out of line with Viconia she will not be the worst of your worries."
"What could possibly be worse than that dark beauty in a rage?"
Smiling darkly Jeral just said one word before stalking away.
"Me."
The smiled disappeared from the man's face as he watched Jeral stalk away.
The group continued into a small chapel that was covered with engravings of death and suffering. The entire room radiated evil and despair. Jeral shuddered as he entered the chapel.
"This mage worships the darkest Gods in the pantheon. Despite the questionable circumstances the city is better off without him."
Anomen pulled out his holy symbol and a vial of holy water and started praying as he worked to cleanse the room of its unholy taint. Within moments the room felt less intimidating and the entire group seemed more at ease.
Sitting on the altar was a large green gem and a jewel encrusted harp. Yoshimo probed ahead and located a number of complex traps. Working together with Nalia the pair disabled all of them; it was slow going but they did not make any mistakes and the way to the altar was clear. Smiling in triumph Yoshimo picked up the gem and the harp. He handed over the gem and the harp to Jeral who turned to look at the group.
"Back to the Coronet. We will visit Raelis first thing after breakfast tomorrow."
Over dinner, after yet another hot bath and change of clothes, the party relaxed and celebrated their success. Haer'Dalis had departed to mend his wounded fingers at a local temple and return to Raelis. Nalia excitedly laid the wand, rod and harp on the table before their dinner arrived for the evening.
"These are incredibly rare and powerful items. This is a wand of cloudkill. Upon command it will launch a cloud of poisonous gas anywhere the caster wishes it to go."
She slid the wand across the table towards Jeral. He pushed it right back to her.
"Jeral, you cannot cast that spell, this wand would aid you greatly."
Smiling Jeral shook his head, "Lady Nalia, you are a powerful mage and you already can cast that spell. You know how to use it to maximum effect; this wand will allow you to cast it in support of the group more often. Use it well."
Smiling Nalia took the proffered wand and slid it into her robes.
"So what does the rod do Lady Nalia?"
Blushing Nalia looked up at Anomen and then quickly down at the table.
"Um, well, you see, this rod can bring someone back from the dead. Not just anyone, someone who died from unnatural causes."
"That is miraculous!" exclaimed Anomen.
"Indeed it is Squire Anomen. This will assuredly be put to use on one or more of us. I think you should hold it."
Nalia slid the rod across the table and Anomen reverently took it from her hands and placed it in the small pack he always carried.
"What about the harp Nalia?"
"I am not sure, Jeral. It is enchanted but I cannot determine what is does. I do not sense any dark magics on it so it should be safe to use."
Jeral picked up the harp and placed it on his lap. He started at it intently as he turned it from side to side. After a few long moments he tightened a few of the strings and plucked on them. He frowned as he adjusted the strings until they came into tune. Smiling he strummed a few chords and then placed the harp down on the table. Beaming he looked at Nalia and the others around the table.
"This is definitely enchanted. It looks like if the musician plays the harp he can command it to confuse his audience or enemies."
"That is quite the artifact Jeral. Do you know how to play the harp?"
"A little bit Anomen. Gorion made me take music lessons all through my youth back in Candlekeep. I spent most of my time mastering the zink but I do know how to play the harp."
"This would be a worthwhile weapon in battle Jeral."
Jeral shook his head as he chuckled and took a deep draught of ale.
"Anomen this harp may be of use to someone in battle but not by me. I am not going to bring a harp to a sword fight."
Jeral waved down a passing serving girl and asked her to invite Hendak over to their table.
After a few minutes the proprietor of the Copper Coronet arrived. The large former gladiator was clad in well made clothes made of dark grey fabrics. His short swords were strapped to his legs and he looked ready to fight at a moment's notice. A few weeks of freedom had improved his wardrobe but had not dulled his warrior instinct in the least.
"A good evening to you all. What can I do for my rescuers?"
He clapped his hands together and beamed at everyone at the table.
Jeral handed Hendak the harp and smiled at the former gladiator.
"Hendak, please have Bernard sell this. It is quite valuable but we have no need of it."
Hendak looked at the harp and rubbed a large calloused hand over the frame.
"Jeral, this is worth a fortune. The gems alone would elevate a man to the nobility."
"There are enchantments within the instrument as well so please ensure Bernard has the Cowled Wizards register the enchantments within it. That certification will help it collect top dollar."
"Very well, I will have Bernard sell it as soon as he can. It should make all of you a pretty bit of coin."
"I am sure it will Hendak. Please keep half of the proceeds for the Coronet."
"Half? Surely you jest Jeral, that is far too generous. The standard fee for selling goods is never more than one share in ten."
Jeral waved a hand away dismissively.
"We have more than enough coin for our needs and are certain to gain much more very soon. Use the coin to provide for the freed slaves and their families."
"That is more than generous Jeral. You all have my thanks."
Hendak shook his hands vigorously and then departed with the harp in search of Bernard.
After a leisurely dinner the party broke up and went their separate ways for the evening. Viconia excused herself and retired while Yoshimo departed in search of a card game. Jeral and Minsc also excused themselves as they headed off to the gladiator arena, looking for sparring partners. Nalia and Anomen remained at the table sipping their drinks and making awkward small talk. Anomen desperately wished he knew what to say to Nalia but could not find the words. So he consoled himself with stealing occasional glances at her as they sat together in companionable silence. At the end of the evening he escorted her to her room and chastely kissed her hand. As he returned to his room he realized that sleep would not come easily for him that night.
It was very late; Minsc and the other fighters had already retired for the evening. Jeral and Hendak sat bare chested in the center of the gladiatorial pit. Hendak's heavily muscled torso was covered with hundreds of angry raised scars. Both men were breathing heavily and Jeral's arms and ribs were heavily bruised. Raised purple welts lined his arms and chest. Four heavily padded swords lay forgotten in the sand.
"Now I know how Yoshimo felt the last time we sparred. You are a dangerous man Hendak."
Hendak chuckled genially and slowly got up to his feet. He rolled his neck and shoulders a few times and twisted from side to side to loosen up his back. He strode over to a table in the corner and poured two mugs of ale from a large pitcher on the table. As he walked away Jeral could not help but feel inadequate compared to the large man. Hendak was a muscular bear of a man and his torso was covered in scars and grey hair. Jeral was the exact opposite, lean, hairless and unscarred. One of them looked like an adventurer while one looked like some lord's pampered offspring.
Walking back to the center of the gladiator pit Hendak extended a heavily muscled arm and easily hefted Jeral to his feet. He then handed Jeral a mug of ale, clinked mugs, and drained his own. Belching happily Hendak strode back across the room and poured himself a second mug of ale. He stared at the foam atop his ale for long moments before he lifted his gaze back to Jeral.
"I have never spoken of this. I have killed hundreds of men in this pit, maybe thousands. After a few seasons in the arena I stopped keeping count. I just stopped thinking of the people I killed; I had to block it out to keep my sanity. I killed every beast imaginable, from simple kobolds to a fire giant, and everything in between. They even made me kill animals. I am not sure why but that was the hardest. Killing a man, even a man who does not want to be there, comes down to you or him. But an animal, they really don't understand. They are doing what nature bred them to do, nothing more. Them trying to eat me, it wasn't personal. I always felt something in common with the animals, since I lived most of my life in a cage yearning for freedom."
Jeral sipped his ale and spoke, barely above a whisper.
"You were in an impossible situation. You did what you had to do to survive."
"Maybe. I always wanted to live. No matter what happened to me I knew that I wanted to survive and taste freedom again. That never wavered for an instant. I knew that to survive I had to learn to kill; I had to be the best. I practiced for hours a day in my cage. I hardened my body with exercise. I begged the masters for trainers and books so I could learn. Once they saw that I had some skills they supported my efforts, for as a champion of note I could command greater purses in the pits. Once I gained a reputation things improved somewhat. While I was not free I still was in a slightly better place than before. I got my own cell, better food; I stopped fighting unwilling slaves and poor dumb animals. After that I just fought foul creatures and handpicked fighters from other slave organizations. I am ashamed to admit it but I actually liked killing them. I reckon there is not a man in this entire city who can best me in the ring, not a one. That's not a boast mind you; I have gotten good at taking a measure of my opponents. I can size someone up in an instant. Your friends Minsc and Anomen, they would not last long against me."
Jeral paused for a moment to take in the man who stood before him. Hendak was massive, with a broad heavily scarred chest and arms thick with muscle. Despite his great bulk he was as quick as Viconia and was absolutely lethal with his paired short swords. Jeral found it hard to imaging that any may could best Hendak.
Jeral rubbed his shoulder and grimaced, "well I know I cannot beat you."
Hendak eyed Jeral intently for a long moment before draining his mug.
"No Jeral, you cannot beat me. Not yet. But someday you will."
Jeral looked sideways at Hendak, "you have an odd sense of humor friend."
"I speak not in jest. There is something about you that is just not normal. Don't look at me that way Jeral, you must know of what I speak. You gave gifts beyond those of other men. I have watched you since you appeared in my life. I have also listened, that is something else I learned in captivity. Sometimes just listening is the greatest weapon of all. Look at yourself. Just take stock of the gifts you have. You are quicker than almost any man alive; you are stronger than all but the very strongest, and from what Nalia says you have a mind equal to that of any mage. Very few have that combination of gifts."
Jeral started to speak but Hendak shook him off and continued on. "On top of everything else you are an incredibly quick study. In the past three hours you have improved more than any I have ever seen. Most take years to improve as much as you have in this very evening. A few more weeks and you will be the equal to Minsc or Anomen."
"You are a very good teacher Hendak."
"That is true Jeral; I am an excellent teacher of swordsmanship and gladiatorial combat. I have instructed all the guards here in the tavern and many others over my life. None have taken to the blades as quickly as you have."
"Well I did have an excellent teacher back in Baldur's Gate. She taught me how to fight with a pair of short swords."
"And yet now you fight with a long sword in your dominant hand and a short sword in the off hand. That requires significant adjustments to your fighting style, to your stance, it impacts your balance, it impacts everything. I have avoided changing weapons over the years since I cannot afford a misstep. Yet here you are; you make the change and quickly become an expert in a new and different fighting style."
Jeral smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "what can I say? I am a quick learner."
Hendak narrowed his eyes and smiled, "I am pretty sure it is a bit more than that. I mean look at you. There is not a scar on you despite all your adventures to the North and your imprisonment at the hand of Irenicus. Your bruises from our sparring session are already fading away. They will be gone by morning when they should linger for days."
"Hendak, not to be rude but it is very late and I am tired and filthy. All I want is a quick bath and then a good night's sleep."
"Very well Jeral, I am not looking to pry. I will train you to the best of my abilities so you are well prepared to kill this Irenicus. But do not take me for a fool."
"I would never do that Hendak. But I do wish you a good night."
Jeral picked up his discarded shirt and jacket and started to walk away.
"I killed a man like you once, a child of Bhaal."
Jeral almost missed the statement for it was spoken in the faintest whisper. Jeral whirled around and stared at the older man.
"What did you say?" Jeral took a few steps towards Hendak, fists clenched tight.
"It was in this very ring last winter. A slaver organization from Thay brought in their champion to fight me. The stakes involved were enormous. He was rumored to be the most lethal man in the realms. The stories reached me well before we ever met. He was strong as an ox and as quick as a snake. He fought with a trident and they called him the Whispering Death."
Jeral was no longer the least bit tired as he listed to Hendak tell his tale.
"I am not sure what I expected when he entered the ring. Well that's not true; I expected a mountain of a man, someone like me - just larger. Instead I see this man stroll out of the tunnel to face me. He looked, well he just looked normal, the kind of man who would not merit a second look if he passed on the street. He was well built and fit but he was barely larger than you. He came out in a billowing pair of turquoise pants that cuffed at the ankles. He was barefoot and wore nothing other than the pants and a large scarlet sash around his waist. Something about him was just off; I could not figure it out. I can always take a measure of a man, but in his case nothing."
"It was his skin that unsettled me the most, for it was flawless like yours. Here was a legendary pit fighter and there was not a scratch on him. It was impossible. No one is that good. I am one of the greatest fighters of an age and I am as scarred as a whipping post."
"Maybe he had magic to aid him, some spell or device?" Jeral absentmindedly fingered the ring on his left hand as he spoke.
Hendak shook his head grimly.
"Impossible. For the big fights Lehtinan paid Cowled Wizards to place enchantments around the arena to prevent magic from functioning in the pits. Nothing could defeat those wards."
"So what happened?" Jeral could not help himself; Hendak's tale had completely drawn him in.
"What was meant to happen happened. We fought. Me with my blades and him with his trident. Within seconds he had sliced open my cheek to the bone and I knew I had a fight on my hands. Still, nothing I had not seen before. So we battled, his trident kept me at a distance but I was able to get in close from time to time as I started to understand his rhythm and fighting style. I managed to sidestep a thrust of the trident, slide in close and stab him in the thigh. The cut bit deep and my blade hit bone before I pulled it out. I left him hobbled and bleeding as his thigh was torn open."
"So you adjusted and defeated him, I fail to see the point of the story."
"The point, you impatient fop, is that his wound just healed. I dealt him a near mortal wound and it closed up right in front of my eyes. Whatever happened to him, it was something inside of him, something powerful healed him."
Jeral shifted nervously as Hendak carried on.
"Once his leg healed he just started grinning and redoubled his attacks at me. He came on heedless of the danger. He attacked time and time again and I barely managed to fend him off. I cut him dozens of times, some were minor wounds but most would have killed Minsc, let alone a fellow your size. Yet each time the wounds healed, and quickly. For the first time in ages I started to fear and realized that I was going to die."
"What did you do?" Jeral could not imagine how Hendak could survive the battle, yet clearly he did for he stood before him today.
Hendak smiled and rubbed his hands together absently.
"I realized there were many paths to freedom. I embraced my own death and that gave me my life."
"Swordfighter, tavern keeper and philosopher, you are quite the complicated man Hendak."
Hendak playfully shoved Jeral and chuckled.
"Just listen boy. I realized I was going to die but I was determined to not die alone. I was going to take that flawless skinned bastard with me. So I allowed myself to take a wild off balance swing that he easily avoided. I stumbled to my right, exposing my entire left side to him. The pain that washed over me when his trident bit into my side was overwhelming. I barely managed to stay on my feet. I dropped the blade in my left hand and grasped the shaft of his trident. He leaned forward, bracing himself to ensure I could not remove the trident from my side."
"We were both in for quite a shock when I instead pulled the trident towards me. The trident dug deeper into my side and tore up my innards. I knew I was mortally wounded, I could feel myself seconds from death. His eyes opened wide in shock as I pulled him in close. Gritting my teeth against the pain I twisted around and slashed out with my right arm. I caught him completely by surprise and my blade removed his head from his body. As I collapsed to the ground I ended up staring at his body on the floor. The last thing I saw before I passed out was his entire body turning into ash and then just disappearing into the ground."
"How did you survive?"
"Lehtinan did not want to lose his champion, particularly after I won a match like that. Apparently it took three clerics from the Temple of Illmater to keep me alive. I slept for six days after that fight."
Hendak patted his side and Jeral noticed the three circular scars from the trident wound. Unlike many of his wounds they looked pink and fresh when compared to so many of his older pale white scars.
"Why are you telling me all this Hendak?"
"Jeral, I owe you and your friends my life. We all do. I am happy to train you and support you as best I can. When you are ready to face this Irenicus I wish you all the best of luck. Just remember sometimes to win a fight one must be willing to sacrifice it all."
Jeral nodded quietly in understanding. Hendak smiled and opened his mouth once again.
"And as a general rule, cutting a man's head off pretty much will kill anyone, regardless of the magic protecting them or the divinity in their blood."